Cipriani vs Una in Brickell: Two Distinct Visions of Waterfront Luxury
Quick Summary
- Two Brickell towers, two lifestyles
- Brand-led elegance vs yacht-like minimalism
- Density and privacy differ materially
- Amenities: service culture vs marina life
Why this comparison matters in today’s Brickell
Brickell’s top-of-market conversation has shifted. The decision is no longer simply “new” versus “newer.” Increasingly, it is about the kind of luxury you want to inhabit: a residence shaped by a hospitality brand and its service rituals, or a residence shaped first by architecture, proportion, and the everyday choreography of indoor-outdoor life on the bay.
Cipriani Residences Miami and Una Residences are two of the clearest expressions of that split. Both target a global clientele, both lean hard into water and view, and both pursue the level of finish and operational sophistication that is now baseline for Brickell’s upper tier. Yet the lived experience can diverge quickly, from the mood of the arrival sequence to the pace of amenity life and the kind of owner who feels most at home.
This is not a verdict. It is a fit question.
The skyline identities: fluid glass vs yacht-inspired form
Cipriani Residences Miami is publicly described as an 80-story luxury condominium tower in Brickell, developed by Mast Capital, with architecture by Arquitectonica and interiors by 1508 London. Its design language is consistently framed as curved and nautical in spirit, with a glass form intended to maximize views and read as a fluid silhouette on the skyline. The message is extroverted: a tower meant to register from a distance and feel kinetic up close.
Una Residences is positioned with a different sensibility. Public materials describe a 47-story waterfront tower in South Brickell, developed by OKO Group and designed by Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture. The building is explicitly yacht-inspired, with a sweeping curved form and terraces oriented toward Biscayne Bay. The implication is more understated: less about vertical spectacle, more about the terrace-to-horizon relationship and life at the waterline.
For buyers, it comes down to presence and posture. Do you want a tall, iconic statement embedded in Brickell’s intensity, or a lower-profile waterfront profile with terrace living as the headline.
Density, privacy, and the feel of arrival
In luxury condominiums, unit count is not just a statistic. It shapes the tempo of elevators, how residential or hotel-like the lobby feels, and how easily a team can learn and anticipate resident preferences.
Cipriani Residences is planned for 397 residences. That scale can support a robust hospitality operating model and a more active amenity ecosystem. It also typically signals more day-to-day motion, with a broader mix of owners and guests.
Una is presented as lower density, with 135 residences. That lower count, paired with published features such as private elevator entry into residences, tends to translate into discretion and a more predictable daily rhythm. The difference is subtle but real: one tower can feel like a vertical neighborhood, while the other can read closer to a private club.
If your definition of luxury begins with controlled access, fewer touchpoints, and a calmer cadence, density matters. If you prefer a fuller-service environment where programming and brand culture are part of the appeal, scale can be an advantage.
Interior philosophy: classic brand elegance vs restrained modern calm
Cipriani’s interiors, designed by 1508 London, are presented as a contemporary interpretation of classic Cipriani elegance, rather than a minimal or industrial approach. That matters for buyers who respond to warmth, polish, and recognizable refinement over stark restraint. Publicly disclosed specifications include 10-foot ceilings and floor-to-ceiling glass, emphasizing volume and a clean perimeter for city and water views.
The kitchen and bath narrative is similarly legible: custom Italian cabinetry with Sub-Zero and Wolf appliance packages, and primary bathrooms specified with freestanding tubs and Dornbracht fixtures. For buyers who value choice within clear guardrails, Cipriani also offers finish-selection flexibility within a curated program, with multiple flooring options noted in the published finishes documentation. The Canaletto Collection is marketed as a premium tier, including upgraded finish packages and optional custom furniture packages designed by 1508 London.
Una’s interiors are often described in design coverage as refined and restrained, with a nautical materials influence rather than overt brand-coded decor. Specifications highlighted in project feature summaries include 10'8" ceiling heights and private elevator entry. In the kitchen, Italian cabinetry is paired with Gaggenau appliances, aligning with an integrated, minimal appliance aesthetic.
The practical takeaway is straightforward. Cipriani delivers an immediately recognizable signature environment with customization pathways. Una offers a calmer, architecturally aligned canvas where terraces and the bay remain the main event.
Amenity programming: waterfront wellness vs hospitality-led living
In today’s ultra-luxury segment, amenities are less a checklist and more an operating system for the week. They influence how often you stay home, how you host, and how the building feels on a Tuesday morning versus a Saturday afternoon.
Una’s amenity program emphasizes waterfront wellness and outdoor life oriented to Biscayne Bay, including multiple pools. Public materials describe three pools, including a lap pool, a family pool, and a kids splash area. The building also includes a private marina and boat slips as a central lifestyle feature tied directly to its nautical concept. Residents are also marketed as receiving access to the Grand Bay Club in Key Biscayne.
Cipriani’s public narrative is more explicitly hospitality-driven, aligned with brand expectations and service culture. While a room-by-room inventory is not essential to this comparison, the positioning is the point: buyers who want their residence to operate with the cadence of a well-run private hotel tend to gravitate toward that promise.
To decide, consider what you actually use. If a marina, bay-facing wellness, and outdoor routine anchor your home life, Una’s thesis is unusually direct. If you want a branded rhythm and the comfort of a globally familiar hospitality vocabulary, Cipriani can feel instinctive.
Neighborhood and second address logic: Brickell vs Miami-beach
Many Brickell buyers maintain a second address, and the reasoning is typically experiential. Brickell optimizes for pace, proximity, and access across Miami. Miami Beach often supplies restoration, sand, and a distinct social atmosphere.
If you are weighing Cipriani Residences Brickell or Una Residences Brickell as a primary home base, it helps to pressure-test the other half of your lifestyle. For those who prefer beach time wrapped in a service-forward environment, Casa Cipriani Miami Beach reads as a conceptual match. For buyers who prioritize a serene, globally legible luxury tone, Setai Residences Miami Beach can serve as a clear reference point on the Miami Beach side.
To keep your Brickell shortlist grounded in what the market is actually delivering, review the official project materials for Cipriani Residences Brickell and Una Residences Brickell side-by-side. Even before a sales gallery visit, the narrative contrast is instructive.
A buyer’s decision framework: choose the kind of luxury you want to feel
When two projects sit at the top of the same neighborhood, the most useful question is rarely “Which is more luxurious?” It is “Which kind of luxury feels like mine?”
Cipriani tends to appeal to buyers who:
- Value a clearly expressed brand aesthetic and a polished social posture.
- Want a documented finish program with curated flexibility.
- Prefer the confidence of well-known kitchen and bath specifications.
Una tends to appeal to buyers who:
- Prefer lower density and a more private daily rhythm.
- Want terraces and bay orientation to define the residence.
- Place high value on marina adjacency and a nautical lifestyle narrative.
In practice, many ultra-high-net-worth households could be happy in either. The distinction is emotional and operational: Cipriani centers signature elegance and hospitality cues; Una centers restraint, proportion, and the quiet luxury of living close to the water.
FAQs
What is the main difference between Cipriani and Una in Brickell? Cipriani is positioned as a Cipriani-branded, hospitality-driven offering, while Una is positioned as an architecture-led, yacht-inspired waterfront tower focused on terraces and bay living.
How tall are the buildings? Cipriani Residences Miami is planned at 80 stories; Una Residences is planned at 47 stories.
Which is more private and lower density? Una is presented as lower density with 135 residences, compared with Cipriani’s planned 397 residences.
Do both projects emphasize water and views? Yes. Cipriani’s curved glass form is intended to maximize views, and Una’s design is explicitly oriented to Biscayne Bay with large terraces.
What ceiling heights have been disclosed? Cipriani has disclosed 10-foot ceilings; Una has disclosed 10'8" ceilings.
What kitchen appliance brands are specified? Cipriani’s published specifications include Sub-Zero and Wolf; Una’s include Gaggenau.
What distinguishes Cipriani’s interior approach? Its interiors are presented as a contemporary interpretation of classic Cipriani elegance, supported by a curated finish program and a premium Canaletto Collection tier.
What distinguishes Una’s lifestyle offering? Una emphasizes waterfront wellness, three pools, and a private marina with boat slips, aligning closely with a nautical lifestyle concept.
Is private elevator entry part of the experience? Una’s published feature summaries include private elevator entry into residences.
How should I decide between Brickell and Miami-beach for a second home? Many buyers use Brickell for access and pace, then choose Miami Beach for a more restorative, sand-adjacent lifestyle that complements their primary residence.
Discover more South Florida luxury real estate perspectives at MILLION Luxury.
Million Luxury
Million Luxury
Welcome to MILLION, an exclusive luxury real estate boutique nestled in the heart of South Florida’s most desirable locations. Specializing in high-end properties, we provide a sanctuary for discerning clients including top Fortune 500 executives, affluent families, celebrities, and professional athletes from across the globe. At MILLION, we understand the unique demands of our elite clientele and offer a seamless blend of confidentiality and personalized attention. Our commitment to privacy is unwavering; we ensure that every transaction and interaction is handled with the utmost discretion and according to stringent confidentiality protocols. Our concierge service embodies the pinnacle of white-glove care, offering tailored assistance that transcends traditional real estate support.
